Sports
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Is it the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans?
It just might be.
Every month offers different things for sports fans, and we’re approaching one of the most fun times of the year. But is it the best?
We’ll break down what are the best months to be a sports fans. Obviously, everyone’s list might be different. If you’re not an NFL fan, the fall won’t be your favorite time. If you love basketball, there are a few times of the year that you’ll love.
July: No. 12
For being the worst month on the list, it’s not a terrible month. You get the MLB All-Star Game and NFL training camp. It’s also the start of NBA free agency. This year, we had the Olympics and the WNBA was hot, so it was better than usual.
February: No. 11
Crazy that the biggest game of the year is played in a month that ranks 11th, but after the Super Bowl, there’s little to get excited about. The NBA All-Star game is fun and Spring Training begins, but that’s about it.
August: No. 10
Baseball heats up, college football usually begins this month and we have the NFL preseason. OK, so the NFL preseason stinks. It’s still fun to watch the teams cut down to the 53-man roster. It’s also a great time for fantasy football drafts.
March: No. 9
The best part of the college basketball season is in March, and that’s really the reason this ranks so high because the other sports are pretty boring. NHL and NBA are getting down to the wire in March, but with so many teams making the playoffs, it’s not too exciting until April. While in recent years, opening day for MLB has been in March, but I’m still counting that as April.
May: No. 8
The best part of this month is the NBA and NHL playoffs. There’s a game on every night and they’re all important. You also have baseball this month, though that’s a distint third on things to be excited about in May. Horse racing isn’t one of my favorite sports, in fact I hate it, but you do have big races in May.
June: No. 7
This is the month two of the four biggest trophies in sports are handed out with the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs wrapping up in June. NFL holds camps and teams can see how they’re looking, and baseball is going strong.
December: No. 6
This is where the playoffs are decided in the NFL. It’s also the start of the MLB free agency period, and that’s always fun. NBA and NHL are just getting cranked up, and college basketball has great games during this month with holiday tourneys. Don’t forget college football has a huge month with conference championship games, Army-Navy and bowl season starting.
November: No. 5
NBA begins this month, you’ll usually see a World Series parade and it’s the start of college basketball season. But let’s be honest, November is football’s biggest month, with NFL holding massive games, college football wrapping up its regular season and its the month for high school football playoffs. When I think football, I think November.
January: No. 4
Another month that is all about football, but the stakes are much higher. NCAA holds its biggest bowl games during the month, the NFL wraps up its regular season and the playoffs kickoff. NHL All-Star game is played here too, and while that’s not too good, the skills competition is the highlight of the NHL season.
September: No. 3
This might be my favorite month because it’s the start of the NFL season. Every season is great until it begins! College football usually starts the last week of August, but September brings some of the best matchups in non-conference games. NHL preseason starts, NBA starts getting ready for the season, and the best part of the month might be the MLB playoff races.
April: No. 2
You really don’t have to wait long for April to be a great month. It starts out right away with the college basketball championship games and baseball holds Openin Day usually right around April Fool’s Day. You also get the start of the NBA and NHL playoffs, and the NFL Draft is held. You might not consider it a sport, but it’s also Wrestlemania time!
October: No. 1
This month has it all. It’s the start of the NBA season, it’s the start of the NHL season, and football is in full swing. October also means playoff baseball, and since the expanded playoffs, it’s just made it more fun. In October, there’s usually something fun to watch every day, and sometimes a few great games each day. It’s the one month you can’t beat.
Joe Mason is a producer for the Asbury Park Press. He occasionally writes columns, but take them with a grain of salt, the man watches professional wrestling.